Journal
BMC CANCER
Volume 13, Issue -, Pages -Publisher
BMC
DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-13-188
Keywords
Patient-centered care; Decision making; End-of-life care; Communication; Caregivers; Cancer; Palliative care; Quality of life; Utilization; Physician-patient relations
Categories
Funding
- National Cancer Institute [R01CA140419]
- National Institute of Mental Health [T32MH018911]
- NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE [P30CA093373, R01CA140419] Funding Source: NIH RePORTER
- NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH [T32MH018911] Funding Source: NIH RePORTER
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Background: Communication about prognosis and treatment choices is essential for informed decision making in advanced cancer. This article describes an investigation designed to facilitate communication and decision making among oncologists, patients with advanced cancer, and their caregivers. Methods/design: The Values and Options in Cancer Care (VOICE) Study is a National Cancer Institute sponsored randomized controlled trial conducted in the Rochester/Buffalo, NY and Sacramento, CA regions. A total of 40 oncologists, approximately 400 patients with advanced cancer, and their family/friend caregivers (one per patient, when available) are expected to enroll in the study. Drawing upon ecological theory, the intervention uses a two-pronged approach: oncologists complete a multifaceted tailored educational intervention involving standardized patient instructors (SPIs), and patients and caregivers complete a coaching intervention to facilitate prioritizing and discussing questions and concerns. Follow-up data will be collected approximately quarterly for up to three years. Discussion: The intervention is hypothesized to enhance patient-centered communication, quality of care, and patient outcomes. Analyses will examine the effects of the intervention on key elements of physician-patient-caregiver communication (primary outcomes), the physician-patient relationship, shared understanding of prognosis, patient well-being, and health service utilization (secondary outcomes).
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